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DAL 200: The Number Count

Our lives are influenced and directed by numbers, from the moment we hear the alarm clock in the morning welcoming us to a new day. Weight scales, gas meters, check-out lines, speed limit signs, schedules, deadlines – all signify our reliance on numbers. It is a way in which to measure progress and navigate complex situations.

Dalhousie has made remarkable strides over 200 years. Look at the numbers.

Dalhousie was founded in 1818, with a gift of £7,000 from George Ramsay, ninth Earl of Dalhousie, to establish the university. Today the estimated current value of Ramsay’s gift is $960,873 (Canadian dollars). The increase in dollar value, however, is dwarfed when compared with the growth of Dalhousie’s extraordinary influence within a global world. Academic excellence, collaborative education, and a hands-on learning environment prepares students to take their place on the world stage.

In 1863, Dalhousie opened its doors with six professors; in 2017, the professors numbered 999. In 1866, the year the first degrees were awarded, the student body boasted 28 students. Today, Dalhousie’s enrollment is over 18,200, with 59% being from out of province and 19% international students. Dalhousie has 13 Faculties and 180+ degree programs. More than $138 million dollars are awarded annually in external research grants and awards.

As graduates of Dalhousie, we belong to a worldwide alumni community of over 130,000.

The Dalhousie narrative continues as we enter a third century – another number to celebrate.